Thank you speech for Aldermanship and Goodbye to North

Val: Thank you for this honour and for all of your support as Chairman over the past few years

Graham: thank you so much for proposing this honour

Liz: Fantastic you are able to join us today and great to see other Aldermen and guests here today.

I’d like to take you back to 1974: The Year that the Local Government Act was made and the Year that North Dorset District Council was formed:

In 1974 I was five and a half years old. I was rather energetic, had a lot to say for myself and was (according to my Mother) rather “bossy”.

I vividly recall 1974 because this was the year that I was allowed to stay up late and watch the Eurovision Song Contest.

It was held in . The interval act was “The Wombles”. Olivia Newton-John sang the UK entry but ABBA who sang Waterloo won the contest.

Well; when they came on to perform, I was mesmerised by their outfits, the girls long hair and glossy lips and long legs.

I knew, in that moment, that I wanted to be a singer and dancer.

I was going to become the fifth member of ABBA.

I knew that the band’s name was an anagram of the first letters of their first names so; when I joined ABBA I was going to give them a choice for a new name.

We could be called DABBA or ABBA-D.

Years rolled by and ABBA had hit after hit and global success. I learned all the songs and all of the dance moves. I was joining ABBA when I grew up and took my singing and dancing very seriously.

In 1982, when I was 14, sadly, ABBA broke up.

I was quite sad but not too dis-heartened as I had discovered boys and that kind of distracted me from my ambition of joining the world’s greatest pop band.

I put to the back of my mind my ambition to join the Super-troup and becoming a Dancing Queen.

Years rolled by even more and in 2007, The electors of Hill Forts Ward Took a chance on me, and elected me their 2nd Councillor to North Dorset District Council. I soon found out that The Name of the Game was all about Money, Money, Money. It seemed as though the Council was Under Attack with constant, increasing demand for services and ever decreasing funds and resources.

But Liz, and latterly, Matt and then Stuart and the whole team here at North Dorset District Council have kept the services going On and On and On. So professionally and also, with so much compassion.

And so, as we celebrate Our Last Summer, And we say So Long and Hasta Manana.

I would like to thank you for Taking a Chance on Me, as a Councillor, Portfolio Holder, Deputy Leader and Leader.

Although ABBA are no longer together. Their legacy lives on. We all remember them with fondness and recognise the brilliant and substantial contribution they made to the world of pop music and as individuals, they are still writing and performing and are still recognised as part of one of the worlds greatest pop bands.

And When All Is Said and Done. Just like ABBA: Our legacy lives on. And we will remember with fondness and respect. The Way Old Friends Do The substantial contributions that the officers and councillors of North Dorset District Council have made to and for the community of North Dorset.

And although, the Councillors going forward from North Dorset will be part of the new Dorset Council and North Dorset District Council will be no more. You will always be recognised as part of, in my opinion, part of, probably, the Country’s greatest District Council.

Thank you and very best of luck.

Deborah Croney